News that seven plots of land in the Lake District have been put up for sale by the national park authority has already raised some serious concerns.

The park authority has put Stickle Tarn at Great Langdale, a 9.5-acre lakeside plot at Blea Brows, Coniston, areas of woodland at Grasmere, Ambleside and Longsleddale and land next to the River Derwent at Portinscale on the market.

It has also not ruled out selling further land assets in future.

The authority says it wants to concentrate its efforts on its other assets, including Brockhole visitor centre at Windermere.

The sales comes at a time when it is getting to grips with a substantial cut in its funding from DEFRA since 2010/11.

Those opposing the sales fear that, in future, public access might be restricted and the land might not be maintained to the same standards. There are also worries new landowners might try to build on the land.

In reality, it seems highly unlikely that anything substantial, like a house, could be built at any of these sites – there are already strict planning rules in place to prevent that happening.

And the LDNPA says public access will be protected and it will do its best to ensure new owners maintain the land properly.

But the fact is that the park authority is a public body with a statutory duty to protect the area. Some people will fear that, at some future date, perhaps years down the line, private owners – without the same public obligations - might try to make some unwelcome changes.

It will be fascinating to see who actually steps forward and bids for these lovely pieces of land.

Perhaps the best solution were if some other public body, such as a parish council, or a group with conservation and protection at its heart, like the Friends of the Lake District, was able to raise enough cash to put in a successful bid.

People might then feel more reassured that the land will remain properly looked after and available for all to enjoy.